The Denver Post told you direct placement teachers in Denver Public Schools don’t deserve to stay and aren’t wanted. Well, half of that is true. I know because I’m one of these teachers looking for a new position in DPS.

I’m a veteran teacher in good standing with the district, always with satisfactory to excellent evaluations. I have no doubt that I deserve to stay in a Denver classroom. But am I still wanted? Yes, by my students and their parents.

The Denver Post is correct in telling you DPS doesn’t want me. The paper just doesn’t know, or won’t admit, why.

I know why. I’m a skilled professional who has taught thousands of Denver children. For my expertise, I get paid more salary than a new teacher with very little classroom experience would receive.

Teaching experience is celebrated as a wise investment to raise student achievement in many districts, but DPS has chosen to view teacher experience as a cost to cut.

Schools in DPS moved more than 1,100 teachers out of their positions over the past two years. The average age of a removed teacher is over 45 years old.

My school district is systematically weeding out veteran teachers for younger, lower-cost employees with no regard to the harmful impact on student learning.

The vast majority of direct placement teachers in DPS do not have poor performance records or ineffective ratings. In fact, many are award-winning master teachers.

Yet, DPS won’t discourage The Denver Post or others from putting a “lemon” label on us to achieve its payroll goals.

I’m still hopeful to find a teaching position in a school that values my experience over my cost.

I am not a failed teacher who deserves this fate and will fight for my career and a new opportunity to continue my years of service to Denver students and families.